Schiffer Publishing Ltd. (also known for its imprints Schiffer, Schiffer Craft, Schiffer Military History, Schiffer Kids, REDFeather MBS, Cornell Maritime Press, Tidewater Publishers, Thrums Books, Geared Up Publications ) is a family-owned
publisher
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...
of nonfiction books founded in 1974. Based in
Atglen, Pennsylvania
Atglen is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. According to the 2020 Census, its population is 1,311.
History
The area now known as Atglen was originally a wilderness. Native Americans made paths which cut across this are ...
, its coverage includes antiques, architecture and design, arts and crafts, collectibles, lifestyle, children's books, regional,
military history,
militaria
Militaria, also known as military memorabilia, are military equipment which are collected for their historical significance. Such items include firearms, swords, sabres, knives, bayonets, helmets and other equipment such as uniforms, military ...
, tarot and oracle, and mind, body, and spirit. Schiffer's military imprint has been criticized by two American historians as providing a distorted portrayal of the German armed forces during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
In 2009, Schiffer Publishing acquired Cornell Maritime Press/Tidewater Publishers.
[La Prade, J. (2009, August 5). Schiffer Publishing buys Cornell Maritime Press/ Tidewater Publishers. MyEasternShoreMD. https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/archives/schiffer-publishing-buys-cornell-maritime-press-tidewater-publishers/article_b5960205-67c1-5874-bea7-8dc31ef1b870.html] In October 2020 Schiffer Publishing announced their purchase of Thrums Books which specializes in telling the stories of indigenous craft traditions from around the world. Its award-winning, illustrated titles have featured artisans in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Morocco, Afghanistan, China and more.
Reception
Schiffer Publishing has been described by American historians
Ronald Smelser and
Edward J. Davies in their 2006 work ''
The Myth of the Eastern Front'' as one of the leading publishers of war romancing literature, second in North America only to the Canadian publisher
J.J. Fedorowicz. According to Smelser and Davies, Schiffer provides a platform for authors who present an uncritical and ahistorical portrayal of the German war effort during the
Soviet-German war
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Sou ...
of 1941–1945.
Schiffer has a strong focus on the German side of the conflict, with 204 titles in its 1996 military history catalogue being dedicated to the German war effort, out of a total of 234 titles. The catalogue described one of Schiffer's titles as the story of "the great aces" who "could not win, yet they fought to the final hour in an unforgettable combat saga".
References
General references
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Inline citations
External links
* {{official
Publishing companies of the United States
Book publishing companies based in Pennsylvania